Installed 2 new axles in my RV this winter, hooked up truck (2010 F150) with factory brake controller and it says all is ok, pull camper and applied manual brake lever and very light brake applied even when maxing out the controller to 10. So jacked up wheel and lever will stop wheel but when brake petal is applied nothing, moved to next axle and same result? Tried with engine running and also in gear still nothing,any ideas? Going to have my son hook up his truck to see if its on my truck end. All wires are hooked up and brake lever will activate brakes on both axles???? Help

You can check the brakes by using the emergency brake switch instead of the truck umbilical. Don't leave the pin out for any long length of time but if you carry a compass around to the axles, and if the magnets are powered, it should swing the compass needle. If you have the wheels off the ground, you can also turn a wheel to check shoe->drum contact.As was mentioned, adjustment is key to good brake operation.BTW, the Ford brake controller is an inertial controller, i.e. truck needs to be moving for the brake pedal to send power to the umbilical.

If manually applying the brakes via the lever on the the controller makes them work satisfactory, then that suggests the controller itself isn't working right in its normal mode.

You say new install so the first things that come to mind are, brakes not broken in, not adjusted correctly, axles installed backward. Trailer brakes do very little if they are rotating backward. Brakes have to be seated in for a few miles with a number of stops and readjusted to do much.

I just adjusted up brakes and I called Dexter who said they need to break in but u have me wondering about axles being backwards, I installed with the tags facing back like my old ones, have to check into that, also Dexter said Truck has to be moving before brakes will work but the lever brake will work anytime? I didn't know that. Is there a way to tell about the axles without taking off the hubs?Thanks for the reply.

Brake problems | Good Sam Community

Gdetrailer
Explorer III
Apr 17, 2015
Lynnmor wrote:
westend wrote:

BTW, the Ford brake controller is an inertial controller, i.e. truck needs to be moving for the brake pedal to send power to the umbilical.

No the Ford controller is not a stupid inertial controller, it senses brake fluid pressure so that the trailer brakes does what you foot wants them to do. Ford did program the controller so that it provides very little braking at very slow speeds to prevent jerking. The trailer brakes need to be tested while driving.

Lynnmor has it correct.

For whatever reason folks seem to insist that Ford is using a "inertia" controller.. They are not.. In fact that would superbly STUPID for any vehicle manufacturer to use an inertia controller when they have EVERY POSSIBLE input available (MC pressure sender plus CANBUS data) to use built into the vehicle..

The Ford controller does however offer a REDUCED output when stopped which is to help hold the trailer load while stopped when on hills.. This lower output may not be enough to test your brakes when trailer tire are jacked up..

For testing your brakes you can simply pull the breakaway switch lanyard (make sure you have the trailer to vehicle cord disconnected ), this should LOCK the wheel as soon as you try to turn it..

Put lanyard pin back in and the brakes should let go and tire should be easy to spin by hand.
Gdetrailer
Explorer III
Apr 17, 2015
stickdog wrote:
For proper adjustment and operation of Ford brake controller READ YOUR OWNERS MANUAL.

:R

Really??

Ford controller is brain dead stupid to "setup"..

Hook up trailer, set the controller output with the up/down control until you feel the trailer brakes slow you down at low speed (25 MPH or a bit lower) when using the manual lever..

After that you simply drive normally and if you want more or less braking you can up or down the output to your liking when braking with your vehicles brakes..

You do not want or need the wheels to lockup when setting the output..

Much simpler than a P2 or P3..
westend
Explorer
Apr 17, 2015
Lynnmor wrote:
westend wrote:

BTW, the Ford brake controller is an inertial controller, i.e. truck needs to be moving for the brake pedal to send power to the umbilical.

No the Ford controller is not a stupid inertial controller, it senses brake fluid pressure so that the trailer brakes does what you foot wants them to do. Ford did program the controller so that it provides very little braking at very slow speeds to prevent jerking. The trailer brakes need to be tested while driving.
I stand corrected, thanks.

Forum Discussion

Brake problems

About Technical Issues

Related Content

Exhaust Brake Problem

2018 Ram Integrated trailer brake problems

Prodigy Brake Control Problems

Braking Conundrum

Disc Brakes